Chapter : 20
Soya was out in the garden, carefully picking out pretty pebbles.
This all began when Sanho, having heard that Soya had promised to make talismans for Yeonjeong and Jeokyeong, begged her to make one for her as well.
[Don’t worry, Lady Sanho. I’ll make one for you too! I want to make lots and lots of talismans and protect everyone!]
When Soya clenched her two little fists tightly and declared that with determination, Sanho chuckled and made a suggestion.
[Then, Miss, shall we play a game of finding the prettiest pebble?]
[A game of finding the prettiest pebble?]
[Yes. Whoever finds the prettiest pebble wins. How about the winner gets to keep the other two people’s pebbles as well?]
[…!]
At the word game, just like when she had played ball the day before, Soya’s cheeks flushed red and her heart began to pound.
Simply walking around the garden and picking pebbles suddenly felt like the most exciting and delightful game in the world.
And if I win, I get to have all the pretty pebbles!
A competitive spirit, instinctive as any child’s, bubbled up inside her.
[Th-then let’s start quickly! I’ll go over there!]
Soya cried out, her cheeks bright red.
At the sight of her obvious excitement, Yeonjeong and Sanho burst into laughter.
And so, the game began.
If I find the prettiest pebble, then Lady Yeonjeong’s and Lady Sanho’s pebbles will be mine too—that makes three pretty pebbles. Then I can make three talismans.
With a very serious expression, Soya examined the pebble she had just picked up from the grass.
This one seems a little pointy at one end.
At a glance, it looked round and smooth, but it was just a little lacking to be called “the prettiest pebble.”
More importantly, if the end was sharp, the person receiving it as a gift might get hurt.
Just then, the sound of neat, measured footsteps reached her ears.
Turning her head absentmindedly, Soya spotted Gahyeon approaching from the opposite direction.
“Ah…!”
Still clutching the pebble in her hand, Soya sprang to her feet.
“Hello, Young Master.”
Gahyeon paused briefly, then smiled gently and returned her greeting.
“Hello, Soya. Playing in the garden?”
“Yes. Um… by any chance, last night….”
Had the young master felt the effect of the talisman like Lord Saeon had?
Just as Soya, her voice full of expectation, was about to ask about the talisman—
“By the way, Soya, you left a strange pebble in my room last night. Why would you play such a prank?”
Gahyeon gently cut her off and asked.
“Ah, that wasn’t just a pebble, it was—!”
“Bringing trash from the garden and secretly leaving it behind… that kind of mischievous prank is a bit troublesome. It’s unfair to the people who have to clean the room, too.”
At those words, Soya froze and glanced up at his face.
His elegantly curved eyes were clearly smiling gently—yet they felt slightly cold.
“And from now on, please don’t enter my room without permission. It makes me uncomfortable. You’re not a person of Baekho Palace, after all.”
Gahyeon let out a soft sigh and spoke in a kind voice. It was gentle, yet reproachful.
The pinkish-red eyes that had sparkled with expectation just moments ago drooped.
Of course, Soya hadn’t entered his room on her own.
She had gone with Yeonjeong and handed the talisman to Hojiga, who had been in the corridor. But he had suggested that it would be better to place it directly by the young master’s bedside, so she and Yeonjeong had carefully gone in and left it there.
Still, since she hadn’t received permission from the room’s owner, Soya thought his words were also right.
But it wasn’t trash… it was a talisman. To the precious young master’s eyes, it must have looked that way.
That made her a little sad, but Soya calmly apologized.
“I’m sorry, Young Master.”
“….”
Gahyeon’s lips pressed together.
He already knew from Hojiga that she hadn’t trespassed of her own will.
Even so, he had spoken that way deliberately—to draw a line.
That he could not acknowledge her staying here.
That she would never become a member of Baekho Palace.
So if she had any sense, she should leave as soon as possible.
Yet Soya didn’t protest, didn’t make excuses, didn’t even show a trace of hurt. She only apologized.
For some reason, Gahyeon felt as though a heavy stone had settled on his chest.
Then his gaze drifted to her hands.
She was clutching a small, round pebble—small and round, just like herself.
Seeing the dirt smudged across both her hands from searching for pebbles made him feel uneasy, and he hurriedly left.
But even after returning to his room, the image of her once-bright pink eyes drooping kept resurfacing in his mind.
It was that child who had barged into his room and left such useless things behind. That child who didn’t know her place and had taken the westernmost room.
Then why do I feel so frustrated… and guilty?
He grew irritated.
It must be because of those drooping eyes.
Those large, pinkish-red eyes that kept tugging at his heart and lingering in his thoughts.
Maybe he should have just told her what she wanted to hear.
That thanks to her talisman, he had slept well.
If he had said that, would those round eyes have sparkled instead of drooping?
She didn’t notice that I dislike her… did she?
He had deliberately drawn a line, saying she wasn’t a person of Baekho Palace—yet now he found himself worrying whether she had seen through his intentions.
After pacing restlessly around the room for a while, Gahyeon suddenly stopped and walked over to the jar where trash was collected.
It was half full, as the servants hadn’t cleared it yet.
He lifted it and overturned it.
Clatter.
Among the spilled contents, a single pebble rolled out.
Gahyeon quickly picked it up and brushed off the dirt clinging to it with his hand.
For someone as fastidious as he was—almost obsessively clean—this was something he would never normally do.
If it’s to chase away ghosts, that spot would be good.
Gahyeon placed Soya’s pebble on the bedside table.
Seeing it finally returned to its place made him feel somewhat better.
He stared at it with a satisfied expression—then suddenly stiffened.
But if I leave it here, she won’t know, will she?
After glancing around for a moment, Gahyeon walked to the window and opened it. Then he set the pebble on the windowsill—
Where anyone passing through the garden could see it.
Because that little cotton puff loved the garden.
Meanwhile, after Gahyeon left—
Soya felt sorry. She had meant to protect him from ghosts, but it seemed she had only caused trouble.
He seemed quite upset because of me.
Even so, he hadn’t gotten angry and had spoken kindly.
The young master is truly a gentle person.
Accustomed to people being angry at her, Soya sincerely thought so as she gazed blankly at the pebble in her hand.
It seemed she should make his talisman with something better than an ordinary pebble.
But I don’t have anything better than a pebble. What should I do?
The things in her room weren’t hers—they belonged to the head of the household. The same went for the clothes and ornaments she was wearing.
Since she didn’t know when this “temporary” stay at Baekho Palace would end, she thought she shouldn’t touch them carelessly.
Then suddenly, she remembered the cloth doll she had received as a gift that morning.
It was the finest thing she owned.
But Lord Saeon gave that to me….
Soya fidgeted with her fingers, deep in thought.
I can’t give the young master something Lord Saeon gave me. That would be disregarding his feelings. But I don’t have anything else that’s better….
She didn’t realize it, but fidgeting with her fingers was her habit whenever she fell into serious thought.
Just then, she saw a palanquin passing in the distance.
Huh?
Her head turned toward it instinctively.
It stopped in front of the main building, and a young lady about Soya’s age stepped down.
Who is that?
Tilting her head, Soya watched the unfamiliar girl descend from the palanquin.
